Civic and Stars push for fourth position finish
Point Fortin Civic and North East Stars, separated only by a one goal-difference in fourth and fifth positions with 39 points, are after a consolation fourth position finish when the 2013-2014 Digicel Pro League championship comes to an end on Tuesday night.
But for Trinidad and Tobago internationals Marcus Joseph and Trevin Caesar, there is a chance of finishing at the top on one table: winning the Golden Boot award.
Twenty-three-year-old attacker Joseph, who represents Point Fortin Civic, leads the list with 15 goals, while 25-year-old North East Stars forward Caesar stands one behind with 14 goals and tied with W Connection’s Joevin Jones and Central FC’s Willis Plaza.
Joseph, whose second half double against Caledonia AIA in Round Two lifted his side to a 2-1 comeback win, will lead Civic against the Morvant/Laventille side from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Tuesday night.
Two hours earlier, 6 pm, North East Stars, who defeated St. Ann’s Rangers 1-0 in both Round One and Two this season, will meet the cellar positioned team.
It would seem a good opportunity for Caesar, whose first half strike against Rangers in Round One earned the Angus Eve coached side a victory.
However Rangers, who were only defeated by a first half Kennedy Hinkson penalty in Round Two, has been a formidable opponent against the Sangre Grande club which boasts the best defensive record in the league this season – conceding 17 goals.
While Caledonia shouldn’t be a walkover for Civic, having defeated the Point Fortin club 2-1 in Round One.
A win for either Civic or the Stars will amount to some level of pride for either side with the season top three already decided.
The tumultuous league title season virtually came to an end on the penultimate day with W Connection lifting the title and securing the $1,000,000 prize, and a week ago Central FC securing second position ahead of Defence Force by goal-difference to join Connection as the two teams to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the 2015 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.
Central will receive $300,000 for its second positioned finish and Defence Force $150,000 for third. Teams finishing 4th to 9th will receive $130,000.
Civic, although equipped with a number of seasoned Pro League players, were the debuting campaigners this season and were once positioned for a top two finish. But the Reynold Carrington coached side had lost its steam on the final straight.
Carrington watched on as the club he represented as player and assistant coach, W Connection captured the league title, adding to this season’s Digicel Charity Shield, Toyota Classic and FA Trophy.
The “Savonnetta Boys”, chasing their fourth major title and fifth overall this season, will take on Police FC in the Final of the 2014 Digicel Pro Bowl on Friday 23 from 8 pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Connection’s bitter Couva rivals, Central FC, winners of this season’s First Citizens Cup and Lucozade Sport Goal Shield titles are the other team to have achieved success on the pitch in 2013-2014.
Digicel Pro League 2013-2014 Rescheduled Round Three Match Day Eight fixtures
Tuesday 20 May
North East Stars vs St. Ann's Rangers—6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Caledonia AIA vs Point Fortin Civic—8 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium